AeroRanger?

Blown · Nov 29, 2014

Playing with Flow Illustrator. Note green vs red are opposite flow/drag. Playing is my biggest objective here, but I think I improved handling a tiny bit and mileage. I am not looking to get the handling improved to the point to autocross nor huge mileage gains!

Stock Extended cab:

Tailgate removed:

Bed Cover only:

AeroRanger: Front air damn, cab back visor, and Tonneau Cover:

I read a study that claimed a reduction of drag (Cd) of 18% with the combination of the cab back visor (19" wide and angled down at 11 degrees for a short bed & 21" and 12 degrees down for a long bed) and a bed cover. An aeroshell reduces drag by about 20%.

Blown · Nov 29, 2014

I have installed a small front air dam. I will add material to drop it down further. The dam needs to be at maximum about 6" above ground to decrease lift without increasing drag much. I assume the dam always adds drag but in pushing the air around the vehicle less drags underneath. At 6" from the ground you get about 6% increase in drag but about 30% decrease in lift. At 3" it does not add drag and you get over 300% decrease in lift!

I installed an aluminum mesh over the grill and lower opening that allows for 25% flow through. The thought being to reduce drag of the air slamming into the radiator and to get more flow to go around. I don't know how effective it is, but I have noticed no boost at 70mph on the same stretch of highway where it went into 1-2lbs before. This after I lowered it a bit too which also helps reduce drag.

I am going to make a cab back visor and report back. My best measure being boost level at 70mph down the same stretch of interstate.

I removed a bunch of stuff to reduce weight for low speed mileage and handling (jump seats, front tow hooks, tire carrier, cross member where tire carrier mounted, running boards, tailgate, and cut the rear bumper down.

Mac · Nov 29, 2014

Those are very interesting to say the least. Probably test like this have greatly reduced the grill openings in current cars.
Dave

Blown · Nov 29, 2014

Mac said:
Those are very interesting to say the least. Probably test like this have greatly reduced the grill openings in current cars.
Dave

Thanks for the reply. Flow Illustrator is very limited, can't be all that accurate nor detailed for how quick it calculates.

I will be watching my rig in the spring to make sure it doesn't overheat and I don't tow or haul so probably don't need all that cooling. I'll also have to keep the mesh clean, them little holes, 3/32 will clog easily..........................

Blown · Nov 30, 2014

The vids I posted link to suck, unless you save and go full screen. In that case the truck is in real proportions.

So Here are screen shots:

Stock

Tailgate down:

Bed cover & dam:

Dam, cab visor, & Bed Cover

Dam, cab visor, Bed cover & wing

Aeroshell with taper at back:

country0001 · Nov 30, 2014

I thought that there had been studies done that by removing the tailgate actually hurt performance. Even when running with it down did not matter.

Blown · Nov 30, 2014

country0001 said:
I thought that there had been studies done that by removing the tailgate actually hurt performance. Even when running with it down did not matter.

Yup tailgate down or removed does cause more drag with an open bed, but I run a bed cover.

Blown · Nov 30, 2014

I added a screen shot above. A progression from stock to my future plans.

stmitch · Dec 1, 2014

Any thought of doing some side skirts? Is there a way that your program can simulate something like that?

You may have already seen it, but this guy has had some pretty great success with his aeromods. When you have some time, it's an interesting thread to read through.
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/my-ford-ranger-project-log-26317.html

Blown · Dec 1, 2014

stmitch said:
Any thought of doing some side skirts? Is there a way that your program can simulate something like that?

You may have already seen it, but this guy has had some pretty great success with his aeromods. When you have some time, it's an interesting thread to read through.
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/my-ford-ranger-project-log-26317.html

Sorry for my prior anger on our difference of opinion, and thanks for the positive input!

The program doesn't show much difference with skirts, but I know there is a positive effect. It's the limitation of Flow Illustrator.

I will likely get to adding some skirts down the line........................maybe some belly pan work, wheel spats like in the thread you refer too, and perhaps cover the fog lights with amber lenses.

I won't likely do the wing, I only saw slight improvement at high speed.

Flow illustrator is for everyone, here ya'll: http://www.flowillustrator.com/

Blown · Dec 1, 2014

Pics added to the series above.

My next two things to do will be to extend the dam down with rubber (rubber so I don't break it) and make me a cab back visor from sheet metal.

stmitch · Dec 1, 2014

Blown said:
Sorry for my prior anger on our difference of opinion, and thanks for the positive input

No worries man. No hard feelings here. There aren't many people crazy enough to try and make a Ranger handle well, so we can't fight amongst ourselves. It's in the past! :beer:

I'd love to see a belly pan, but it's not easy to design, especially rear of the trans crossmember. I like the idea of helping aero, and being basically invisible from the outside at the same time. There aren't many aero mods that have that level of discrete stealthiness to them like a bellypan.

That program looks interesting, I'll have to give it a shot next time I'm bored. Thanks for the link!

scrapper · Dec 2, 2014

I was wondering if a camper shell would have any effect? I am talking about the kind that is small in front then gets a little bigger in the back and fiberglass. It would seem to be smooth but more weight?

Blown · Dec 2, 2014

scrapper said:
I was wondering if a camper shell would have any effect? I am talking about the kind that is small in front then gets a little bigger in the back and fiberglass. It would seem to be smooth but more weight?

Added weight hurts mileage more in stop and go, around town. The added weight of the shell is not that much though. Once you get up to speed, the added size will create more drag at the back. It would likely add some down force if it gets bigger towards the back.

You can see the flow pushing down on the shell and the big wag in the flow behind the rig is drag.

85_Ranger4x4 · Dec 2, 2014

country0001 said:
I thought that there had been studies done that by removing the tailgate actually hurt performance. Even when running with it down did not matter.

It isn't a one size fits all thing.

The 04-08 Supercab F-150's with 2' deep 5.5' short boxes they ran on Mythbusters are different aerodynamically than say... a std cab truck with an 8' box of the older variety that is only 15" deep.

I can see the difference all year long between my scab F-150 with a 6.5' box and my STD cab Ranger with a 7 footer. Right now the '150 box is still full of leaves from the oak tree above my driveway although I drive it on the highway nearly every day and the Ranger is swept clean although it maybe leaves the farm once or twice a week. Never put a tape to them but my '02 F-150 bed is quite a bit deeper than my '85's but still nowhere as deep as an '04+ '150.

Will had a great quote a few years ago that I humorously apply to my Ranger which is a basically a brick:

My truck uses the smashmouth method of fuel economy. I mercilessly pummel the air in front of me by driving the maximum possible frontal area into it. Then, badly beaten, those air molecules retreat warning the other ones in my path, like little molecular Paul Reveres.

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